Curtis Cup

Curtis Cup holds special place in Captain Stasi's heart

The R&A

28 Aug 24

3 mins

The Curtis Cup will always be extra special for Meghan Stasi and the USA captain is hoping to create more great memories at Sunningdale this week.

Stasi met her future husband, Danny, on the day she found out she had made the US team for the 2008 match at St Andrews. And after the USA had completed a 13-7 victory over Great Britain and Ireland at the home of golf that summer, Danny proposed to Meghan on the Swilcan Bridge.

Special moment

“It was my first time to play in the UK and we just fell in love with it, for many reasons,” said Stasi as she recalled her memorable week at St Andrews 16 years ago. “I turned 30 on May 30^th, that was the Friday, so we had a fun little spectacle that night and then my husband proposed on Sunday on the bridge, after we won, of course. “He wasn’t going to do it unless we won – and if I said no, he said he was pushing me in the burn! “Every time I come over here, we get to play new golf courses, meet new people and we just feel at home in a lot of places, so I’m very happy to be here.”

Sunningdale hopes

A four-time winner of the US Women’s Mid-Amateur, including back-to-back wins in 2006 and 2007, Stasi is now focused on getting the best from a US team boasting four of the top ten players on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®). “It’s a long time coming – I was announced (as captain) almost two years ago, so you’re just waiting for it to be here … and it’s here,” she said. “The girls are very mature – they may be a little bit on the younger side, but I’ve been able to watch them and just see how mature they are. “They’ve travelled overseas on a lot of occasions and they’re very independent and I think they’re just going to show their game that way. It’s just going to be an exciting week.” Although Sunningdale will be a new venue for the USA players, their captain has previously played the spectacular Berkshire course on several occasions. What is more, Stasi believes a scouting trip closer to home can prove beneficial for her team this week.

Meghan Stasi - USA Captain

“The girls are very mature – they may be a little bit on the younger side, but I’ve been able to watch them and just see how mature they are."

Pine Valley practice

“I’m very fortunate to be a member of Pine Valley (the venue for the 2034 Curtis Cup), and there are some very similar characteristics,” she explained. “I’ve been able to bring the team to Pine Valley this past weekend.” On the specific test of Sunningdale, she added, “There are several holes that are definitely driveable for the girls – the girls hit it a long way. “I’ve played the course several times and the staff and the members have just been really inviting. I’m just very honoured to have played a few times out here.” Stasi’s opposite number this week is the much-decorated Catriona Matthew, who made history as the captain of Europe’s Solheim Cup team by overseeing back-to-back victories in 2019 and 2021. Asked whether she expects Matthew to have a positive impact on the GB&I team, Stasi replied, “I would believe so. She has quite the record, quite the background. “But when it comes down to Friday’s pairings I’ll just get the girls prepared and we’ll be ready when we step on the first tee.”

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